In life, there are always moments, days and seasons of uncertainty. Yet, when I take time to listen, I am overwhelmed by God’s still small voice and how He speaks exactly the right words at precisely the right time. Yes, He is God, and that is what He does!

I was given the devotional book titled New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp, just when I needed it. I have found this devotional book to be a source of comfort and strength, and I highly recommend it. I’m sharing a selection from one of the devotions because of the timing and relevance to how it blessed me. I pray that something from these words will speak into the difficult places you are navigating. Parts of the theology, you may or may not agree with. However, I hope and pray that you will sift through the message as you allow God’s Spirit to deepen the impact.

“To think today that your life doesn’t work out as planned, that it’s out of control, is to forget that Jesus reigns for your sake and for His glory.

…This world and everything in it are not functioning the way God intended. The brokenness of this fallen world will enter your door and somehow alter the trajectory of your life. In those moments, it’s tempting to conclude that life is about surviving the chaos. You feel that you don’t have much power, you have been confronted with the fact that there’s not much that you control, and you have no idea what might be lurking around the corner. It all seems impossible and scary.

But this is not where God’s Word leaves us. Yes, it does confront us with our smallness, weakness, and lack of control, but it doesn’t leave us there. The Bible declares something to us that is the opposite of the way we tend to think. It tells us that the difficulties that we face every day, the seeming chaos that regularly greets us, are not the result of the world being out of control. Paul says in Ephesians 1:22, “And He (God) put all things under His (Christ’s) feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church.”

So, no matter how it looks to you at street level, your world is not out of control; no, it is under careful rule. As radical as that thought is, it’s not radical enough, because it does not do justice to all that Paul says. Paul wants you to know something else. That rule has you in view! Right now, Jesus rules over all things for the sake of His children. This is where peace is to be found.”

- from New Morning Mercies by Paul Tripp

Praise God, blessed peace is found in knowing “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

I am grateful that I have lived enough years and endured enough heartache and pain to know the truth of these words. Am I thankful for the pain? Perhaps not, but I am grateful that in and through the pain, I have discovered more of my Lord. I now realize beyond any doubt that God is God and I am not, and He has a good plan. This brings me deep peace and a sense of contentment that doesn’t come from the world; it is only available through the grace of God.

So, when news headlines make no sense and fear is lurking at the door, let’s remember Who is in control. God is in control, and all will be well.

Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.